Baker-Carmichael House

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the Baker-Carmichael House in Hood County. Now settle in, because this one's got layers. In 1905, a man named Jess Baker (prominent local businessman, banker, and member of the Texas House of Representatives, no less) built himself a house with his wife Alice.

And when Jess Baker set out to build a house, he was not, apparently, in the business of doing things halfway. What he and Alice put up was a Queen Anne residence with Classical Revival elements thrown in for good measure. We're talking a corner turret.

A formal portico held up by two-story columns. A wraparound porch that just dares you to sit down and stay a while. This was a house that had something to say, and it said it loud.

Now, Jess Baker died in 1921. Alice followed him in 1922; just a year later. Back-to-back losses like that have a way of hanging over a place.

But a house that fine doesn't stay quiet for long. Dr. Arch Carmichael, a prominent local physician, and his wife Dora purchased the house, and it took on a new name: Baker-Carmichael, carrying both families forward into history.

Two households, one remarkable structure, still standing as proof that when somebody builds something with that kind of intention, it tends to outlast just about everything else.

What the marker says

Jess Baker, prominent local businessman, banker, and member of the Texas House of Representatives, and his wife Alice built this house in 1905. Following Jess Baker's death in 1921 and Alice Baker's death in 1922, the house was purchased by Dr. Arch Carmichael, a prominent local physician, and his wife Dora. This house is a fine example of a Queen Anne residence with some Classical Revival elements. It features a corner turret, formal portico with two-story columns, and a wraparound porch. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1996